# NTSB BFO92LA097: Cessna 172M, N61941, Bedford, PA, July 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1992, 23:20 local (Jul 13, 1992, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, PA
- Coordinates: 40.010196, -78.500564 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0102&lon=-78.5006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA097

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AT NIGHT ABOUT 800 FEET PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY FOLLOWING AN ABORTED LANDING.  THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE SIX DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  HE HAD SIX HOURS OF NIGHT FLIGHT TIME.  THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT A PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD. THE PILOT THEN INCREASED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, BEGAN TURNING LEFT, AND THEN DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE BARELY CLEARED A ROW OF TREES WHEN THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP AND THE WINGS BEGAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING THE ENTIRE TIME.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING AND THEN CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE FLAPS WERE UP AND THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB ACTUATOR CORRESPONDED WITH ABOUT A 5 TO 10 DEGREE NOSE UP SETTING. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61941](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61941-1995-08-16), registration cancelled 1995-08-16, S/N 17264901 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 64901
- Airframe hours: 2841
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bun Air Corporation
- Registered owner: Bun Air Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1992, 21 hours before
- Departed: 4G9
- Airport: 4G9, Bedford Airport, runway 21, 2,041 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 73 total, 73 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AOO, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920712055079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920712055079A), Jul 12, 1992: Cessna 172M, Bedford, PA, Destroyed. Stalled on dark night go around after a bounced landing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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